Compact camera with dual-pivot folding flash unit

Abstract

A compact camera has a flash unit comprising a flash arm pivotally connected to the camera body for movement between a folded position substantially flat against a top face of the camera body and an unfolded position standing up from the top face and a flash head pivotally connected to the flash arm for movement between a folded position covering a lens opening in a front face of the camera body when the flash arm is in its folded position and an unfolded position standing out from the front face. The flash head is releasably held in its folded position to similarly hold the flash arm in its folded position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A compact camera comprising a camera body, a flash arm having a pivotal connection with said camera body for movement towards the camera body to a folded position and away from the camera body to an unfolded position, and a flash head having a pivotal connection with said flash arm for movement towards the flash arm to a folded position and away from the flash arm to an unfolded position, is characterized in that: said camera body has a front face with a lens opening for a taking lens and a top face joined at a juncture with said front face; and   said pivotal connection of said flash head with said flash arm is located proximate said juncture of said front face and said top face when the flash arm is in its folded position to permit the flash head to lie substantially flat against the front face to cover said lens opening in its folded position and to stand out from the front face to uncover the lens opening in its unfolded position.   
     
     
       2. A compact camera as recited in claim 1, wherein said camera body has a rear face joined at a juncture with said top face, and said pivotal connection of said flash arm with said camera body is located proximate said juncture of said top face and said rear face to permit the flash arm to lie substantially flat against the top face in its folded position and to stand up from the top face in its unfolded position. 
     
     
       3. A compact camera as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein said front face has a recess adapted to substantially receive said flash head in its folded position when said flash arm is in its folded position, and said pivotal connection of said flash head with said flash arm permits said flash head to project substantially out of said recess in its unfolded position when said flash arm is in its folded position. 
     
     
       4. A compact camera as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein locking means releasably secures said flash head to said camera body for releasably holding the flash head in its folded position when said flash arm is in its folded position, thereby to also hold the flash arm in the folded position. 
     
     
       5. A compact camera as recited in claim 2, wherein said top face has substantially more surface area than said front face or said rear face. 
     
     
       6. A compact camera comprising a camera body, a flash arm having a pivotal connection with said camera body for movement towards the camera body to a folded position and away from the camera body to an unfolded position, and a flash head having a pivotal connection with said flash arm for movement towards the flash arm to a folded position and away from the flash arm to an unfolded position, is characterized in that: locking means releasably secures said flash head to said camera body for releasably holding the flash head in its folded position when said flash arm is in its folded position, thereby to also hold the flash arm in the folded position.   
     
     
       7. A compact camera as recited in claim 6, wherein a spring biases said flash arm to its unfolded position to move the flash arm to that position when said flash head is released from being held in its folded position.